REVIEW: The New Couple by Alison James

The New Couple by Alison James

Genre: Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 26th September 2022

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Amazon

Published: 27th September 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The perfect marriage. The perfect house. The perfect secret…

As I step through the cherry-red door of my new home, I know I should feel like the luckiest woman alive. I have a handsome husband, a beautiful daughter and now the house of my dreams. And to everyone else my life looks perfect…

When the neighbours stop by to welcome us, I tell them my name is Stephanie Hamlin and, under the watchful gaze of my husband Richard, I introduce him and our curly haired little girl Poppy. I smile as wide as I can and desperately hope I can fit in to this exclusive place with its pretty communal gardens. Because I’ve risked everything to be here.

Behind closed doors I try to relax, to unwind in the huge clawfoot bath and forget about my complicated past. It’s hard being the new couple on the street when you’ve got secrets.

Because the truth is, my charming husband isn’t really my husband.

And I’m not Stephanie Hamlin…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. If you love Behind Closed Doors, My Lovely Wife and The Perfect Couple, you’ll be hooked.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Alison James' tense domestic thriller THE NEW COUPLE.

A slow burn story that gives the reader just enough to keep them engaged, THE NEW COUPLE has fairly unique twist to this tense domestic thriller with a difference. I wasn't sure what to think at first as the pace was a little slow and it seemed to go in a different direction than the premise suggested. But it does pick up and things start to fall into place before too long and ends up being something of a sticky situation for all involved as well as an interesting turn of events.

The prologue opens the story giving the reader the air of something sinister but then it about faces when we meet Jane Headley, a fifty-something resident of the affluent south west London area of Sycamore Gardens, who watches with interest the new couple moving into number 12. It seems the property, formerly owned by a retired couple who moved away to warmer climes, had been donated to the charity service who then placed the Victorian semi-detached home as the prize in a lottery sweep. The lottery is won by Richard and Stephanie Hamlin who had been saving to purchase their own home for some time. Together, with their 9 month old baby daughter daughter, the Hamlins swiftly move into number 12 Sycamore Gardens with an air of mystery about them.

The couple, who moved in with nothing but black bin bags filled with their belongings, keep to themselves mostly but Jane is quick to welcome them to the neighbourhood but receives a less than favourable welcome for her trouble. When she notices they had no highchair for young Poppy she offered to source one for them to borrow until they could get their own, but was refused. In fact, the couple didn't seem to have anything for the baby. No cot, nappies, toys...nothing. 

And then one day, a knock at her door heralded young Stephanie with the gorgeous golden curled Poppy in her arms asking her to baby-sit. Thinking it will just be for an hour or two, Jane is happy to help out. But then Stephanie is gone for almost six hours and upon her return mumbles an apology of sorts but offers no explanation. Soon Jane finds herself becoming an unpaid babysitter while she disappears for hours on end, especially when Richard is so clearly at home. This spikes Jane's interest and she begins to play amateur detective to find out a little more about this mysterious couple.

That's when she notices Richard beginning to pay nocturnal visits to one of their other neighbours and taking full of advantage of another's absence to copulate. But whatever is going on here really isn't any of Jane's business and her husband Fergus would be the first one to tell her to leave it. But Jane just knows that something isn't quite right about the new couple.

Then we meet another couple - Keren and Liam - but how do they fit in? I'll say this, with their entrance the story certainly ramps up a notch or two. The pace picks up and twists begin to come fast and are soon made clear as things start falling into place. But...just exactly where is it all going? And where will it all end? The lives of everyone involved entwine with colossal consequences...but how and why? 

A slow burn to begin with, the pace doesn't really pick up until Part Two but don't worry, that is only a dozen chapters into the story and it is then that some of the bigger twists are revealed. And gradually, the pieces of the puzzle start fitting together and things begin to make sense. The first part is pretty much Jane and her suspicions with not a whole lot happening but then everything is turned on its head and I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it.

Although it wasn't my favourite of the authors, THE NEW COUPLE is still an entertaining read with a unique plot that surprised me and a satisfying end. I would have preferred a faster pace but it was enough to hold my interest until it did pick up, so I wasn't disappointed.

Definitely worth a read for fans of domestic thrillers.

I would like to thank #AlisonJames, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNewCouple in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

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REVIEW: Someone's Watching Me by Zoe Rosi

Someone's Watching Me by Zoe Rosi

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 24th September 2022

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Amazon

UK

US

Published: 15th September 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Is someone dangerous out to get her? Or is it all in her mind?

Becky’s life is almost perfect. Growing up, she could never have imagined living in such a safe, beautiful home, with a boyfriend as loving and kind as Alex, and hopes for a little family of her own. But then stand-offish Max moves in next door, and things begin to fall apart.

First, someone starts trolling her social media. Then she finds her tyres slashed. By the time she discovers the dead bird, left waiting for her like a prize, she’s sure someone is after her. And having spied some strange goings-on beyond her kitchen window, she suspects that person is Max.

Frightened, Becky turns to Alex for help, but she’s surprised to find that he and Max have become firm friends—and that Alex is convinced it’s all in her mind. But when news of a missing young woman breaks, Becky knows she has to do something. She’s sure she’s seen this woman in Max’s home—hasn’t she?

With Alex concerned that she’s losing her grip on reality, does Becky dare keep digging, knowing her almost-perfect life could shatter into imperfect little pieces?

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I mean, I enjoyed it and it was very definitely a quick read but...I felt it was lacking something. What that was, I don't know. It just felt that something was missing to give it that extra oomph. But I was still engaged throughout. In fact, I almost read it in one sitting, finishing the last half hour of it this morning before I got up and my day got hectic.

Becky lives a happy, safe and secure life on a beautiful quiet street in South London with boyfriend Alex. She works as an estate agent, he is a personal trainer and she loves the life they share together. They are even trying for a baby which will just complete the now perfect life she has. But Becky's life now is a far cry from the one she came from; the one she tells no one about, not even Alex. Everyone thinks she can't remember her early life before she went into foster care and she has let them believe that, but she remembers clearly. No one knows what she saw. Not even Alex. But it still haunts her almost three decades later. 

Maybe that's what makes her so jumpy when new neighbour Max moves in next door. From the first moment, Becky has had an inkling that there is something not quite right about Max when she found him standing outside just staring at her. He wouldn't take his eyes off her. There was something dark almost sinister in his stare. But why? What does he hope to achieve? She tells Alex about her concerns but he just laughs them off. Especially when in the coming days he actually befriends their new neighbour and finds him quite a personable guy. Max has even booked some training sessions with Alex. But Still Becky is on edge. Every time she looks towards the house next door, Max is just staring at her. It's chilling.

She tries to brush it off by focusing on her work and is ecstatic when she gets a viewing for a £3m mansion, thinking the commission will come in handy. But the prospective buyer never shows up and then she finds locked out of the property. What is even more puzzling is the bad review the no-show left about her, leaving the company in a bad light. And when she does get to show the house again, the woman is cagey and doesn't look like she could afford to buy a two up two down terrace let alone a £3m mansion! Then an open house she has booked for the weekend goes from bad to worse when she's running late because someone slashed her tyres and a pile of stinking rubbish is left sprawled over the back yard, turning away everyone who turned up to view the house. Who would do this to her? 

Beginning with some vicious trolling on social media and the loud heavy metal music from next door, moving on to slashed tyres to stinking rubbish to a disemboweled crow left on her car and the innate feeling that someone is watching her, Becky is sure someone has it in for her. But who? And why? Becky believes their new neighbour may have something to do with it but Alex laughs off her concerns which quickly escalate into arguments about what he deems as an unhealthy obsession in Max. Adam thinks it's all in her mind but Becky knows someone is toying with her and there is just something about Max that gives her the creeps. And when women start to go missing, she is certain that Max has something to do with it.

And all too soon, Becky's perfect life begins to fall apart... Is someone out to get her or is she really losing her mind?

Honestly, SOMEONE'S WATCHING ME is a good solid quick read that is fairly fast paced and is interesting enough to keep you engaged throughout but it lacked excitement and that edge-of-your-seat thrill-of-the-chase feeling. I was unsure what was missing but I think maybe that was it. But it is still a good quick read to while away a few hours. Really, I completed it in just over 4 hours tops.

There are just a handful of characters and no one is really all that likeable, except maybe Anita and Lucy, and of course Becky. But even she seemed an unreliable narrator at times that the reader sometimes questions her logic...but then we don't know what we soon discover about her past. Ryan was a complete moron but it was Alex who was the biggest shock. He and Becky are supposed to have this committed loving relationship and I found that difficult to marry up with his attitude towards her when she tried voicing her concerns. Instead of trying to allay her fears and talking with her, he accuses her of being obsessive and unreasonable and then walks out on her refusing to answer any of her texts or calls. Some loving boyfriend!

It most definitely is a psychological thriller that makes you question the reliability of its narrator and whether everything is as it seems. The plot wasn't entirely original, but that's OK, though it has been done better. The twist was a little predictable but would have been even more so had we learnt about Becky's past sooner so I think that revelation came at just the right time or it would have spoilt the twist. The ending, though, was a little underwhelming but still poignant. However, it was still entertaining with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages to the end.

I would like to thank #ZoeRosi, #Netgalley, #AmazonPub and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #SomeonesWatchingMe in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Zoe Rosi has a background in journalism and copywriting. She worked as a reporter for local and national newspapers before moving into the fashion industry as a copywriter. Zoe had four romantic comedies published before writing her debut thriller. It was while working as a fashion copywriter that Zoe had the idea for her first thriller, which she describes as ‘The Devil Wears Prada meets American Psycho’. 

Zoe's thriller, Someone's Watching Me, comes out in September.

Pretty Evil is due to be published in January 2023. It has been optioned for TV by Corestar Media.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Foster Family by Nicole Trope

The Foster Family by Nicole Trope

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Domestic Suspense, Family drama

Read: 23rd September 2022

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Amazon

Apple

Google

Kobo

Published: 21st September 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In their holiday home, a stone’s throw from the beach, Elizabeth dials the police with trembling hands. ‘My little boy, he’s missing.’

Elizabeth is Joe’s foster mother, but she loves him like her own. The five-year-old, who adores superheroes and watching the birds outside, is the child she has dreamed of. As she looks into the garden, where he was playing just moments ago, her heart feels like it has been ripped from her chest.

She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life. The woman who has been trying to desperately get him back.

She was meant to protect Joe from her husband. The man who, right now, lies to the police, saying he was making breakfast when Joe disappeared. Who squeezes her shoulder, ordering her to be quiet.

She was meant to look after Joe. They are just footsteps from the ocean, and little Joe can’t swim.

Then Joe’s tiny blue sandal is found in the water. If the worst has happened – the unimaginable – Elizabeth will never forgive herself. Because what if the secret she has been keeping for years, the guilt eating her alive, has somehow hurt her little boy?

It’s time to tell the truth – even if it means losing the child who is her whole world. Even if it could be the death of her.

A totally addictive, twist-packed psychological thriller about family secrets, a marriage on the edge, and the deadly line between love and hate. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and Freida McFadden.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's tense domestic tale THE FOSTER FAMILY.

Nicole Trope has done it again! I love her books and am always excited when she has another coming out. Each story is emotive and filled with tension, drama and even a little bit of mystery and THE FOSTER FAMILY is no different. She has the innate ability to draw you in from the very first page and keep you invested throughout the journey. And it is a journey she takes you on. Her skillful prose and the way in which she entwines the past and present into one can only speak of her proficiency in both her writing and the genre with which she floods. She can always be relied upon to spin us a tale of intrigue and tension that will get under your skin.

On the beautiful south coast, a couple of hours from Sydney, Elizabeth, husband Howard and their 5 year old foster son Joe arrive at their holiday home for the next month leading up to Christmas. The weather is warm, the sun hot and the sandy beach offers plenty of recreational enjoyment for the family. Elizabeth wants nothing more than to give Joe all that his heart desires but Howard rules the home with an iron fist - both figuratively and literally. He has a list of rules that are far too many for such a young child and yet there will be consequences should Joe fail to follow them.

Across the road, watching from his window is 80 year old Gordon. He enjoyed the idea of a young family on the quiet street again and is eager to introduce himself. But something stops him. A cross word, a frowned expression and a pointed finger that was oblivious to his watchful eye and Gordon realises that all is not as it seems. What should he do?

One morning he goes out to fill his bird feeder when he sees little Joe laying on the bench outside with a blanket over him. It might be summer but the mornings can still be chilly on the coast. So why would a child be sleeping outside when he should be safely tucked up in bed?

The more Gordon watches, the more he realises that something is amiss with the family across the street. But when he phones his son Malcolm and shares his concerns, he tells him to keep out of it. But Gordon isn't so sure.

And then one morning as he returns from his walk, he is shocked to find police cars outside the house. It seems Joe has gone missing. And Gordon can't help but think if only he had called the police and shared his concerns earlier, maybe he could have prevented this from happening. But he isn't sure himself of what he saw in the fogginess his deteriorating mind has become.

Across the street, Elizabeth is frantic and Howard is angry. He has pointed the finger at "the old guy across the street" accusing him of showing a perverted interest in Joe. But Elizabeth knows that not to be true. He is just a nice old guy that is a bit forgetful sharing his love of birds. But can she speak out against her husband and live with the consequences? Or should she just keep quiet? What if Joe's biological mother has come looking for them? What if she's found him and taken him? The authorities have denied her any access whatsoever after she was caught trying to sell him for $50,000.

And then there are the intermittent chapters of an unnamed man who stops to help a horrifically injured young girl. Who are they? And where do they fit into the story? 

But what's most important is finding Joe. Where could he be? Did he run off? Did Howard hurt him? Has Gordon taken him? Or has the biological mother returned to claim him, albeit illegally? The possibilities are endless.

The story unfolds primarily through the alternating perspectives of Elizabeth and Joe both leading up to the disappearance and on the day of. While interspersed are those of the aforementioned unnamed man. The plot is complex with a wealth of characters that each play a part. The beginning may be a little confusing to start with, especially as the unnamed chapters have no timeline on them so we have no idea of when it takes place. Is it present or sometime in the past? But it soon falls into a steady rhythm that flows quickly as the pace quickens.

The characters are expertly drawn though it was hard to warm to Elizabeth and definitely not to Howard. The winner of the story, for me, was Gordon who wanted so much to help but was battling with his own deteriorating mind. Nicole expertly gave us a window into the mind of someone in the early to mid stages of dementia...and it is both eye-opening and heartrendering. It is something close to my heart just now.

As always, Nicole's writing is solid and skillful as the story seamlessly flows between perspectives, timelines and events. While the ending did require a little suspension of belief, it was a rather happy ending for all and that in itself is satisfying, whether it was believable or not.

Overall, THE FOSTER FAMILY is an emotive yet tense read that while not really a thriller, is still fast paced tale of domestic suspense. I cannot speak highly enough of Nicole Trope's work and I have loved everything of hers I have read. Worth every star.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheFosterFamily in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

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Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

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REVIEW: The Father by John Nicholl

The Father (Dr David Galbraith #3) by John Nicholl

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 19th September 2022

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Amazon

Published: 20th September 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

What you don’t know can hurt you.

Thirty years ago Anthony Mailer was a seven-year-old boy trapped in Dr Galbraith’s basement. Now he’s a journalist, a husband and a father. But no matter how far he’s come, at times he’s still that scared little boy.

In order to save his marriage, he has to stop hiding from what happened and deal with it once and for all.

But digging into the past holds dangers Anthony never imagined . . .

A note from the author: While fictional, this book was inspired by true events. It draws on the author’s experiences as a police officer and child protection social worker. The story contains content that some readers may find upsetting. It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.

MY THOUGHTS:

The third in the Dr David Galbraith series, THE FATHER is a dark and disturbing psychological thriller that delves into the lasting effects and impact that child sexual abuse has on its victims. The first book "The Doctor" has to be one of the most chilling, harrowing and disturbing tales I have ever read. The second book "The Wife" details Galbraith's wife's perspective and how she became one of his victims too. Now in THE FATHER we have come full circle as we revisit the events of both of the first two books combined.

Anthony Mailer was seven years old when Dr David Galbraith abducted him and imprisoned him in his cellar. Now thirty years later he is journalist, husband and a father...but no matter how far he's come the past still haunts him just as much today as it did when he was that little boy. In his attempts to face the past, Anthony has decided to write a book based on his experiences as well as others at the hands of the monster they called "the doctor". But to do so requires research and research requires investigation which thus involves bringing up the past that, for many, has been long since buried. But not for Anthony...not for his mother and not for Galbraith's many victims.

His digging into the past is both harrowing and haunting, as memories long forgotten come flooding to the surface to the point he feels as if he is drowning in them. The only way he can put a lid on them and keep afloat is to lose himself in several pints or a bottle of single malt - straight. Even wine would do the trick. Anything to take away the pain. But the alcohol is merely a band aid and before long that in itself creates problems for Anthony in his marriage.

But how can he delve into the past and relive every harrowing moment without the numbing effects of alcohol to take it all away? But he knows that to do this will be cathartic, it will unleash the pain and memories he has carried for so long. And so using his journalistic skills he arranges a series of interviews with many of those involved with Galbraith or the investigation into the paedophile ring he puppeteer-ed. He is methodical in his interviews and record keeping, taking notes or recording the interviews if he can. To do so will help him feel more normal and not the scared little boy Galbraith had reduced him to. Each step is fraught with heartbreak as well as tension as the reader takes this journey with the now adult Anthony alongside the then boy Anthony.

It doesn't matter that I read "The Doctor" just two months ago and I knew what happened and all the events that took place. It doesn't matter that I knew what was to come. THE FATHER is Anthony's story; his journey. We get his perspective on what happened in the course of events we read in that first book that took place thirty years ago. And we see just how it has affected him. It is harrowing, haunting and equally disturbing as it is poignant. John Nicholl holds nothing back and yet he deals with the subject matter sensitively. You cannot read this, or any of the Galbraith series, and not be affected by them. They truly are emotive reads within their own right.

The fact that this is the third book in the series does not mean you need to read the first two to keep up. THE FATHER suffices perfectly well as a standalone, as each book does. But together they complement each other as we then see the bigger picture and the wider effects that such abuse in any form has on those around them. We know it as the ripple effect. Every tendril that branches from the initial event has the power to affect everything else it comes into contact with...even briefly.

And yes, while you or I may have read the first two books so we know what Anthony's investigations are going to uncover. But in something of a different light we then see it from others' perspectives...and ultimately, the final twist that brings everything into focus. Every action has a reaction...and every action has a consequence.

A word of warning - THE FATHER, just like "The Doctor" and "The Wife" before it, are not for everyone. There are multiple trigger warnings featuring abuse of various forms - domestic, sexual abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, rape to name a few. It is a no-holds-barred read but a thought-provoking one just the same. And one you won't forget for a long time to come.

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheFather in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, social worker and lecturer (and now a "serial chiller") as the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of numerous darkly psychological suspense thrillers. He began writing after leaving his job heading up child protection services.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Stolen Child by Emily Shiner

The Stolen Child by Emily Shiner

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 18th September 2022

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Amazon

Published: 11th September 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She has hundreds of adoring fans. Only one wants to be her best friend.

Eliza has the perfect life. A beautiful home, a hugely successful blog, a loving husband and two adorable children.

Bethany barely scrapes by in a dead-end job. Her only happiness comes from reading Eliza’s blog. Obsessed with her, she believes they’re destined to be best friends.

But Eliza doesn’t want another friend . . . especially one as pushy as Bethany. Because Eliza is hiding a family secret. One that would shatter her entire world if it was ever revealed.

Rejected and furious, Bethany starts stalking Eliza. And, as she watches her every move, Bethany discovers Eliza’s secret and threatens to expose it.

But Eliza will do whatever it takes to protect her perfect life. Even if it means getting rid of Bethany . . . forever.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is my first read by Emily Shiner and I wasn't disappointed. The concept is intriguing with an edgy twist with a prologue that begins the spiral that soon becomes out of control. The reader does have to suspend belief at some of the actions and decisions made by both main characters which really have to be seen to be believed. But who wants reality when reading? It's entertainment and an ability to engage readers that I'm looking for and the author does this well.

Social media has taken the world by storm with Instagram and TikTok among the favourites. Influencers who are sponsored by big name brands to advertise their product rake in profit just for snapping a few well-curated photos in just the right way and the likes (and the money) come rolling in. But take a moment and stop and think just how much information we share on our social media platforms about ourselves. Even our photos can tell someone a lot about us. Once you realise this, the entire concept feels a whole lot scarier.

The story centres mainly on Eliza, an Instagram influencer and blogger with a following that defies logic. But what is even bigger than her social media presence? A secret that she and her husband James have kept for the past 18 months that neither of them want made public. And that makes Eliza vulnerable.

Then along comes Bethany, a cocktail waitress in a dead-end job and a one bedroom apartment with no friends, no money and no prospects. She has followed Eliza avidly for ages, watched her daughter Penelope grow from a baby to a young girl. To Bethany, Eliza has it all. A perfect life, a beautiful home, a loving husband and a gorgeous daughter. It's everything Bethany wants and more. And she decides that she wants it. Obsessed with her, Bethany believes they are destined to be best friends. And she decides that she is going to befriend Eliza. Whether she likes it or not.

But after a couple of fluffed attempts at befriending Eliza, Bethany cannot understand why she doesn't want to be her friend. I mean, that's all she really wants. And no one can have too many friends, can they? But what Bethany doesn't realise is that Eliza doesn't really have any friends. And for good reason.

And then one day...something in one of Eliza's latest instagram post catches Bethany's eye. And suddenly, she knows Eliza's secret. And that is her way in to Eliza's life. And she has no intention of leaving...ever!

Where do I begin? Well, the two main characters Eliza and Bethany are both completely self-obsessed. Both of them are totally flawed to the max and don't see a problem with their behaviour at all! And don't get me started on their decision making! To be honest, they are both to blame for the mess they found themselves in. Usually, the reader sides with one character but quite honestly they were both infuriating. However, I did find myself leaning a little more favourably towards Eliza, though goodness knows why! The woman couldn't see beyond herself, she was that self absorbed!

But the tension...oh the tension! This book had that in spades! I couldn't put it down and read it in a day. Despite the self-obsession and the crazy psycho, THE STOLEN CHILD is one hell of a read that was a thrill ride from start to finish. While the pace was steady to begin with, as soon as Eliza's secret is out...there's so stopping this rollercoaster ride.

The story unfolds through Eliza and Bethany's alternating narratives as we see into both women's worlds and the secrets they are hiding. Some of it is cringe-worthy, not with how it is written but the internal dialogue of both women and the justifying of their actions. Bethany especially is somewhat disturbing...but excellent fun to read though.

While there is no real mystery in this tale, no villain you have to guess the identity of because they are in plain sight, there are still plenty of twists to be had. The ending was a bit of a surprise, as I didn't quite expect it to go in that direction and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. But it still works.

THE STOLEN CHILD is a dark thriller that is twisted and psychological that will have you turning the pages long into the night.

I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheStolenChild in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: My Husband's Secret by L.G. Davis

My Husband's Secret by L.G. Davis

Genre: Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 17th September 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 16th September 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I thought I knew my husband. I was wrong...

I have the perfect life: a loving marriage, and an adorable little daughter, Mia, who is always full of smiles. But when my husband Keith is hit by a car, my whole world is turned upside down. With my heart breaking in his cold white hospital room, I hold his hand and tell him how much I love him. Then just as Keith slips into a coma, I hear him say four words that change everything: I took a life.

Mia and I move into my childhood home with my parents for support, and I spend hours by Keith’s hospital bedside, willing him to wake up. I keep his last words to myself; I cannot believe my gentle husband would hurt anyone. But as I search through his belongings, it becomes clear that he was hiding something.

And when I discover a note in my parents’ attic, my breath catches in my throat. My husband is not the only one in my family with a dark secret, and I’m beginning to think what happened to him was far from an accident…

But just as I get closer to the truth, my daughter goes missing. I’ll do whatever it takes to save my child. But I soon realize I was wrong about everyone I thought I could trust…

Totally gripping and unputdownable domestic suspense about family secrets and lies. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for L.G. Davis' tense domestic thriller MY HUSBAND'S SECRET.

I have only recently discovered L.G. Davis in just the past couple of months, having devoured two of her previous thrillers "Liar Liar" and "Perfect Parents" (previously titled "The Surrogate's Gift"). Both were intricately twisted, a little out there with a propensity to suspend belief...but were also equally addictive, compelling and totally unputdownable. I don't care if they are a little far fetched, as long as the story is engaging and keeps me turning the pages. And that goes for MY HUSBAND'S SECRET as well. After reading and loving all three of these domestic thrillers, I have to wonder where L.G. Davis has been hiding. She is a new-to-me author only a couple of months ago but she is one that I quickly go to and know I am going to be thoroughly entertained from start to finish as I try to guess the identity of her villain.

We meet Avery Watkins within the first pages as she runs a massage parlour with her best friend Celeste in the comfortable Willow Gate. Their business has been open a year and they are about to hire more masseuses to keep up with the thriving business and their newly acquired receptionist (former client) is a God-send.

And then Avery gets a call from the school at which her 7 year old daughter Mia attends to say that she has not been picked up. Avery is confused as her husband Keith was supposed to collect Mia some time ago but calls to his mobile go unanswered by both the school and Avery. Upon arriving home with Mia, Avery is then confronted with the sight of a waiting police care. This could not be good. Keith had been involved in an accident having been knocked off his bike with the driver then fleeing the scene. Avery is beside herself. After leaving Mia with Celeste, she rushes to the hospital to find her husband in a critical condition having undergone hours of surgery. She remains by his bedside and when he finally awakes, he struggles to speak managing only to whisper the words "I took a life" before slipping into a coma.

Avery is shocked. This cannot be true. Her husband is the kindest, gentlest and most honest person she knows. He is her best friend. She would know if he was hiding something like this...wouldn't she?

Calling on the support of her family, Avery moves back into her childhood home with Mia while she makes the daily journey to the hospital some forty minutes away. But she has never had a good relationship with either of her parents - her mother suffering bad bouts of anxiety and depression and her father is an alcoholic. Neither of them particularly present during her childhood. Their neighbour, Ruth, was Avery's only shining light. She was more of a mother to Avery than her own parents had been and is also Mia's godmother.

Avery juggles her time between ferrying Mia to school and at the hospital, leaving the business in Celeste's capable hands. But with each visit she sees no change in her husband and begins to wonder if he will ever wake up and explain the meaning of his last words. But the doctors assure her is coma gives him the best possible chance as he had sustained a serious head injury. So all she can do is hope.

In the meantime, she begins to do a little snooping to try and make sense of those words. Both she an Keith have kept a journal as a way of making sense of their thoughts and emotions but when she goes back to their empty house to search for it, it's gone. And Avery knows it was there when she packed some items for Keith for the hospital. So where is it? And then there is the added mood back with her parents. Something is amiss and it soon becomes very clear that they are keeping something from her. But what, she doesn't know. 

The one shining light, aside from Ruth's unwavering support, is Mia's new teaching assistant at her school, Miss Campbell. Mia adores her and her presence has had a calming effect on her otherwise confused and emotional daughter. At the end of each day, Mia is full of excitement at the things Miss Campbell got her to do and the special projects she has assigned her. Avery is grateful that Mia can at least find solace there in an otherwise uncertain situation in which Avery finds herself now. 

What is the secret her husband has been keeping? And what happened to the money that has miraculously disappeared from their joint bank account? Who would hate her husband enough to run him down so callously and then flee the scene without calling for help? And what secrets are her parents keeping from her? 

Amidst the tense narrative told predominantly from Avery's perspective, we also have an anonymous one in the form of "The Watcher" who keeping tabs and watching Avery's every move and with particular interest in Mia, believing Avery to be self-absorbed and neglectful of her little girl. Trying to guess the identity of The Watcher is fraught with possibilities, red herrings and plenty of tension. I had a couple of suspects throughout narrowing it down to one by the end thanks to the little clues the author drip-fed us.

MY HUSBAND'S SECRET is an edge-of-your-seat read that keeps you engaged and entertained the entire way through. It doesn't matter how believeable or probable the story is...it's the ride and entertainment factor I enjoy. Some of it may be far fetched but that is one thing I have come to expect from L.G. Davis and it matters little to me because of the compelling nature of of her tales that are fraught with so much tension I simply don't want to put them down. And even though I was in something of a reading slump (due to some devastating personal news), I still managed to read this book in one day.

A totally twisted read is nothing if not exactly what I expect from this author who delivers such tense and addictive domestic thrillers with something of a sting in the tail at the end of each one. Every ending is climatic and every final word a cliffhanger. Each one of her thrillers I have read to date have left readers with something of an open ending. Something I don't usually like, but L.G. Davis delivers it perfectly and satisfactorily. She is one of my new go-to authors as I know I will never be disappointed with whatever twisted tale she has to offer...I just know I will enjoy it anyway.

I would like to thank #LGDavis, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsSecret in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Liz's story began in a refugee camp in Angola, where she spent the first eight years of her life. After that, she spent some years in Namibia (her home country), South Africa, and Germany. Liz wrote her first full-length novel at eighteen and hid it in a box under her bed. Several others soon followed it. Her passion lies in writing edge-of-the-seat psychological thrillers that give readers the same rush they would get on a rollercoaster.

She now lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and two children. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

REVIEW: When We Were Young by Dawn Goodwin

When We Were Young by Dawn Goodwin

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 14th September 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 14th September 2022

★★ 2 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Four best friends. One of them is dead. Are their secrets safe?

Uni friends Stacey, Paula, Bev and Valentina used to be inseparable until one weekend before graduation when nothing was ever the same again.

Thirty years later, reunited at Valentina's funeral, Stacey receives a letter written by her late friend asking for one last wish... that the three friends go back to where things fell apart and finally bury the hatchet.

As they revisit their old haunts of their uni days and follow a series of clues left by Valentina, their friend's death begins to look suspicious and it is up to them to find out what happened – but they all have secrets to hide.

They say good friends are hard to come by, but when there is so much at stake and someone is lurking in the shadows, how do you know who is a friend and who is a foe?

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm not really sure about this one. I've only read one other book by this author and I think I found that to be mediocre at best too. For me, the whole drawn out tale doesn't really scream thriller. It barely screams anything...except the characters' constant need to drink, get drunk, throw up and keep going...then keep the sad reality of their respective personal lives secret.

Stacey, Bev and Paula knew each other growing up and bonded even further at university where they then met Italian/Scottish Valentina Mackenzie when she answered the ad for a room to rent at their flat. They spent more time drinking at various student bars and clubs than studying, I'm not surprised Stacey never became the architect she'd always dreamed to be. Or that Bev ended up a stay at home mum in a fairly loveless marriage with two ungrateful teenagers. Or that Paula's own marriage was fraught with angst, jealousy and violence. None of them appeared to be happy at all.

Thirty years after they last swore they would never speak again they are together again. Valentina is dead and the estranged friends have reunited for her funeral. Oddly enough, at Valentina's own request. She had sent a letter asking them to come together one final time and get past the buried secret that drove them apart thirty years before.

When a second letter arrives insinuating that the fact she is now dead is not a coincidence. It was not an accident. She urges the friends to keep pushing for answers...and to uncover the truth of what happened to her.

So what happened thirty years ago that was so life changing that they parted ways, promising never to speak of it again...or to each other? And was Valentina murdered for it? And if so, does that then put the rest of them in danger?

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG is not really a thrilling sort of thriller. The pace is steady but the characters are fairly unlikeable with seemingly nothing going for them. Valentina is quite obviously a girl with secrets but why was she lying to her friends? Was it only so she would be accepted? Or was it something more sinister?

The narrative is predominantly in the third person from each of the three remaining friends' perspective in the present day and mostly Valentina's in the past. There is also the anonymous voice of a mystery person watching their every move. What is their involvement?

I really struggled with this one. I'm not sure if it is the timing (what with the Queen's death last week and the mourning over the continuing days), if it is my mood in general or this is simply one of those books that sound intriguing enough by the premise but is lacking in the execution. I couldn't really connect with the characters, I didn't really like them and the story was fairly uneventful and dry. I didn't really care about Stacey's dull and monotonous work or her colleague's fascination with his crotch. Both were as dull and monotonous as the story. I wanted to like it and I wanted to know what happened - what big secret they are all hiding that happened three decades ago and why Valentina was killed (if in fact she was) - but not enough to finish it.

I found it dragged on and I became impatient for something to happen but all that seemed to happen was endless amounts of drinking and puking and not much else.

Overall, a mixed bag really. The premise was intriguing but again, it was lacking in execution. Something of a disappointment sadly as I needed something to pick me up. This was not it.

I would like to thank #DawnGoodwin, #Netgalley, #HeadOfZeus and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #WhenWeWereYoung in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Dawn Goodwin’s twenty-year career has spanned PR, advertising and publishing, both in London and Johannesburg. A graduate of the Curtis Brown creative writing school, she loves to write about the personalities hiding behind the masks we wear every day, whether beautiful or ugly. Now a company director, what spare time she has is spent chasing good intentions, contemplating how to get away with various crimes and misdemeanours, and immersing herself in fictitious worlds. She lives in London with her husband, two teenage daughters and British bulldogs Geoffrey and Luna.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

SPOTLIGHT: When We Were Young by Dawn Goodwin

 

When We Were Young by Dawn Goodwin

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 14th September 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 14th September 2022

DESCRIPTION:

Four best friends. One of them is dead. Are their secrets safe?

Uni friends Stacey, Paula, Bev and Valentina used to be inseparable until one weekend before graduation when nothing was ever the same again.

Thirty years later, reunited at Valentina's funeral, Stacey receives a letter written by her late friend asking for one last wish... that the three friends go back to where things fell apart and finally bury the hatchet.

As they revisit their old haunts of their uni days and follow a series of clues left by Valentina, their friend's death begins to look suspicious and it is up to them to find out what happened – but they all have secrets to hide.

They say good friends are hard to come by, but when there is so much at stake and someone is lurking in the shadows, how do you know who is a friend and who is a foe?

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Dawn Goodwin’s twenty-year career has spanned PR, advertising and publishing, both in London and Johannesburg. A graduate of the Curtis Brown creative writing school, she loves to write about the personalities hiding behind the masks we wear every day, whether beautiful or ugly. Now a company director, what spare time she has is spent chasing good intentions, contemplating how to get away with various crimes and misdemeanours, and immersing herself in fictitious worlds. She lives in London with her husband, two teenage daughters and British bulldogs Geoffrey and Luna.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads